This lesson will introduce students to the biographical information of the Wright brothers and Alberto Santos-Dumont and the contributions they had on flight developments as well as the impact of public relations and media on historical events.
Students will develop critical thinking skills as they debate arguments developed by proponents of each side during the controversy in the early 1900’s on who originated human flight.
1. Introduce the lesson by asking students “Who invented flight?”
2. Explain to students that there was considerable controversy as to who actually was the first to complete a powered flight event.
3. Place students into two groups. Inform students that they are detectives and need to locate the truth about the First Flight. Each group will represent either the Wright brothers or Alberto Santos-Dumont.
4. Have students research the Wright brothers and Alberto Santos-Dumont using the Internet, books, articles, magazine and other resource materials.
5. Allow students to have a class debate about the contributions of both groups of inventors as well as the arguments for who the legitimate ‘owner’ of the title belongs to.
6. After the debate, involve students in a discussion of the role media has on history.
7. Each student will submit a paper summarizing the contribution of each side of the debate, who they believe had the first flight, and how the media plays a role in how news and information is disseminated and affects history.